Just back from New Wine 2024 with the family and I am physically exhausted but spiritually exhilarated.
It was wonderful to be back at Shepton Mallet where it all began in 1989 - the site is holy ground for me and for so many.
14,000 gathered for a festal celebration of our faith in the One who alone is the Way, the Trust and the Life.
This year it was a joy to serve on the Luminosity team serving 1,800 eleven to eighteen year olds (I was on the detached team and roved around chatting to delegates who chose not to come to the meetings and it was my joy to lead three of them to Christ over the course of the week).
It was an honour to have a cameo guest appearance at my friend Simon Guillebaud's seminar on evangelism at Impact. (I love sharing a stage with him as he makes me look balanced and moderate).
I loved also doing a seminar for Illuminosity entitled: "Out of the comfort zone and into the Kingdom zone" at which 15 to 20 young people made a commitment to Christ.
It was a delight to serve under the Revd Leed Edward Kirby (associate Vicar at St Thomas' Newcastle) who heads up Illuminosity for New Wine (great to catch up with the amazing Vicar Ben Doolan also!).
Lee and I were colleagues at St Michael Le Belfrey and he had gathered an amazing team of volunteers (many of whom I know who served as Forgees and Interns at the Belfrey - it was a thrill to see them leading so well and walking in their callings).
Having not been into the meetings all week, it was lovely to go into the venue for the last one or two worship songs as we concluded last night (see below).
I was undone by the Holy Spirit as I expressed my gratitude for all He has done this week and I was deeply moved to witness a sea of young people worshipping the Lord in reckless abandonment.
This is what I live for!
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